Texas Southern Basketball Roster 2026: Players, Positions, and Team Outlook

College basketball rosters shift each season. Transfers move in, seniors leave, and younger players step forward. The Texas Southern Tigers program enters the 2025 2026 season with a mix of veteran guards, experienced forwards, and a few developing players still learning the college game.

This guide digs into the Texas Southern basketball roster for 2026, breaks down who stands out most, and spells out what kind of group they’re putting together as conference play rolls around.

Texas Southern Tigers Basketball Program Overview

The program at Texas Southern University has been in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) for years, a league where tough defense is just how teams play, and the guards are usually running the show on offense. The team is based in Houston for home games, and they’ve shown up in the NCAA tournament a handful of times over the last ten years.

For the 2025 2026 season, head coach Johnny Jones runs things for the Tigers. He’s been around coached at a bunch of NCAA schools before this. His approach usually means playing hard-nosed defense, crashing the boards, and letting his guards set a fast pace.

Early numbers put them just above seventy points each night while going through a rough non-conference lineup.

That part can’t be ignored when sizing up their lineup. The coaches didn’t just pick one guy to build everything around. This squad counts on everybody doing their part.

Texas Southern Basketball Roster 2026

The current roster includes guards, wings, and interior players spread across several class years. Heights range from smaller quick guards around six feet tall to forwards pushing close to seven feet.

Guards

Guards drive most offenses in the SWAC, and the Tigers are no different.

Jaylen Wysinger plays the point guard role for the team. Standing around six feet tall, he handles the ball and organizes the offense. His minutes reflect trust from the coaching staff, and he often sets the tempo in transition.

Bryce Roberts provides scoring from the backcourt. He has averaged double-digit points and contributes steals on the defensive end. Roberts also handles some secondary playmaking duties when the offense slows down.

Zytarious Mortle adds depth at guard. He contributes scoring off the bench and rebounds well for a perimeter player.

Cameron Patterson, one of the younger guards, is still developing his role. In limited appearances, he has shown flashes of scoring ability and quick hands on defense.

Another experienced guard on the roster is Alex Anderson, a senior from Memphis who transferred from Incarnate Word earlier in his career. At six-foot-six, he brings length to the backcourt and can defend multiple positions.

Wings and Small Forwards

The Tigers have several players who sit between guard and forward roles. These players often guard the opposing team’s top scorers.

Zaire Hayes works primarily on the wing. His role includes perimeter scoring and defending taller guards. Hayes has averaged around ten points per game during the season.

Duane Posey offers versatility. At about six-foot-seven, he can play either forward or wing depending on the lineup. His rebounding numbers give the Tigers added size on the floor.

Anthony Andrews, sometimes called “LJ,” serves mainly as a rotation wing. His minutes vary depending on matchups and foul trouble.

Forwards

Inside scoring and rebounding remain key parts of the Tigers’ style.

Troy Hupstead stands out among the frontcourt players. He leads the team in scoring and rebounds, averaging roughly fifteen points and close to ten rebounds each night. His ability to score inside while controlling the glass makes him one of the most important players on the roster.

Josh Farmer brings additional size in the frontcourt. At nearly six-foot-ten, he helps defend the paint and provides depth at power forward.

Josh Akpovwa rotates into the forward spot as well. His role often focuses on rebounding and defensive possessions.

Ahmed Abouelela is another frontcourt player who contributes limited minutes but adds physical presence when the Tigers face bigger teams.

Centers

The center position for Texas Southern is shared among several players rather than a single full-time starter.

Jordan Gorecki often anchors the middle. His shot-blocking and interior defense give the Tigers protection near the rim. He also grabs rebounds that start the fast break.

Oumar Koureissi, a senior forward-center, brings size at nearly seven feet tall. His minutes can vary depending on matchups and foul situations.

Full Texas Southern Basketball Roster Snapshot

The 2025–2026 Texas Southern Tigers roster includes the following players:

Alex Anderson
Anthony Andrews
Ahmed Abouelela
Josh Akpovwa
Josh Farmer
Kehlin Farooq
Jordan Gorecki
Zaire Hayes
Troy Hupstead
Cameron Patterson
Duane Posey
Bryce Roberts
Jaylen Wysinger
Zytarious Mortle

Most of these players come from high school programs across Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and surrounding states, reflecting the recruiting footprint of the program.

Key Players to Watch

Troy Hupstead

Hupstead serves as the most productive player on the team statistically. His scoring average and rebounding totals place him among the most active players on the roster. When he stays out of foul trouble, the Tigers often play their best basketball.

Bryce Roberts

Roberts provides steady backcourt scoring. Guards who can create their own shot are valuable in conference play, especially late in games when possessions slow down.

Jaylen Wysinger

Every team needs a reliable point guard. Wysinger fills that role by distributing the ball and organizing offensive sets.

How the Roster Fits the Team’s Style

Coach Johnny Jones has leaned on a traditional college basketball formula.

First comes defense. The Tigers often pressure the ball and attempt to create turnovers that lead to fast break chances.

Second comes rebounding. Players such as Hupstead and Gorecki help secure second-chance points.

Finally comes balanced scoring. Several players contribute points rather than relying on a single high-volume scorer.

This type of roster construction tends to work well in the SWAC, where depth and physical play matter over the long conference schedule.

Texas Southern Basketball Depth Chart (Projected)

Point guard duties usually fall to Jaylen Wysinger, with Bryce Roberts also handling the ball in certain lineups.

The shooting guard and wing spots rotate between Roberts, Anderson, Hayes, and Mortle depending on matchups.

The forward positions often include Hupstead and Posey, while Gorecki or Koureissi handles center responsibilities.

Depth players such as Patterson, Farmer, and Andrews step into the rotation when needed.

This flexible lineup allows the Tigers to adjust against different opponents.

Season Outlook for Texas Southern Basketball

Early season results show the team working through a demanding schedule that includes games against larger programs. Those matchups can produce uneven results, though they also prepare the roster for conference competition.

The SWAC schedule often determines whether teams reach the conference tournament in a strong position. If the Tigers maintain rebounding strength and consistent guard play, they could compete with the stronger teams in the league.

Still, the roster includes several younger players who are still developing. Growth across the season will likely shape the team’s final record.

Recruiting and Roster Movement

College basketball rosters rarely remain the same from year to year. Transfers and graduating seniors create openings for incoming recruits.

Texas Southern often recruits players from Texas high schools, along with transfers from junior colleges or other NCAA programs. That approach allows the staff to add experienced athletes without rebuilding from scratch every season.

Players like Alex Anderson illustrate that path, arriving from another program and contributing immediately.

People Also Ask About Texas Southern Basketball

Who is the head coach of Texas Southern basketball?

The team is coached by Johnny Jones, a longtime college basketball coach who previously worked at programs including LSU before joining Texas Southern.

Which conference does Texas Southern play in?

Texas Southern competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, often called the SWAC. The conference includes historically Black colleges and universities across the southern United States.

Who is the leading scorer on the Texas Southern roster?

During the 2025–2026 season, Troy Hupstead has led the team in scoring and rebounding based on available statistics.

Does Texas Southern make the NCAA tournament often?

The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA tournament several times during the past decade, usually by winning the SWAC tournament.

Why the Texas Southern Roster Matters in the SWAC

Roster balance often determines success in mid-major conferences.

Programs with strong guard play and dependable frontcourt players usually advance in conference tournaments. Texas Southern appears to follow that pattern with a roster that spreads responsibility across multiple positions.

If guards like Roberts and Wysinger remain healthy while Hupstead controls the boards, the Tigers could remain competitive in the SWAC race.

Final Thoughts on the Texas Southern Basketball Roster 2026

The Texas Southern basketball roster 2026 reflects a typical SWAC lineup built around experienced upperclassmen and role players who understand physical conference play.

The Tigers do not rely on a single star. Instead, the team spreads scoring and defensive responsibilities across several players. Guards provide speed and shot creation. Forwards handle rebounding and interior defense.

That balance can make the team difficult to predict. On strong nights, the Tigers can compete with more established programs. On weaker nights, they may struggle to keep pace.

As the season unfolds, the development of younger players and consistency from the starting lineup will likely shape how far the team goes in the conference standings.

Author Recommendation

College basketball rosters often look simple on the surface, but they reveal a lot about how a program thinks about the game. The Texas Southern roster for the 2026 season offers a good example of that idea. The coaching staff did not build the team around one headline name. Instead, the roster spreads responsibility across several experienced players who know their roles.

That approach fits the identity of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Games in this league tend to be physical, and depth often matters more than star power. A roster that includes multiple seniors and versatile wings can hold up during the long conference schedule.

Readers who follow college basketball casually may focus on the largest programs, but mid-major teams like Texas Southern provide a different story. Their rosters show how smaller programs compete with limited recruiting resources. They often rely on player development, transfers, and athletes who bring toughness to the floor.

Looking closely at a roster helps fans understand how a season may unfold. For Texas Southern, the combination of experienced guards, active forwards, and interior size gives the team a foundation that could keep it competitive throughout the SWAC schedule.